How To Find HIV Treatment Services

Posted by Rushell Kayna on March 20th, 2020

HIV is a Sexually Transmittable disease. The disease is spread through unprotected sexual activities, transfusion of blood from an infected person to a non-infected person, use of non-sterilized surgical tools and needles used for taking drugs, and so on.

The HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) disease is not fatal on its own, but the virus affects the host's WBCs (White Blood Corpuscles) and lowers them down progressively. The WBCs being the defense of the body, when completely depleted, are no longer able to defend the body against other infections and diseases. The infection of opportunistic diseases after a severe HIV infection is called AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

AIDS is the final stage and usually fatal in most cases. Generally, there is no cure for the infection; however, in some cases, HIV infections never advance to the AIDS stage. It can be achieved with proper medication from an HIV Help Center in Birmingham and a little lifestyle change.

Here is some information on finding HIV treatment services:

1. Here's How To Find An HIV Health Care Provider

Once someone has HIV infection, the only option is to be on medication for lifelong. Administering pills can help you keep the HIV spread in check. The ART (Antiretroviral Treatment) in various combinations can help you make sure the infection spread rate is stabilized, and your WBC count does not fall beyond a certain point.

To find a health care provider for HIV/AIDS, log on to HIV.gov or call HIV helpline. They can help you locate the services near you. They include HIV test centers and treatment centers, and mental health services in case you feel depressed about your situation.

2. Start HIV Treatment Program Soon After Its Diagnosis

An HIV Help Center in Birmingham can help you diagnose the condition and tell you whether you have the virus or not. They can also put you on the medication soon after the diagnosis.

Any further delay can lead to the spread of the infection in your body and lower the WBC count that can be cause infection of other opportunistic diseases. HIV treatment is usually taking pills daily, so there should be no reason to delay.

3. It Is Never Too Late To Start The Treatment

HIV is a progressive disease that takes months to years to show its early signs. In some people, the spread of AIDS can be too quick. At this stage, the infection with opportunistic diseases can be diagnosed.

Some of the signs of AIDS initially look like common cold or fever or other common diseases. Repeated instances of infections, diagnosis of common yet incurable diseases, and quick and a throughout a spread of common infections like fungal diseases, etc. are common signs of AIDS.

This stage of HIV infection is too advance and difficult to treat. However, the combination of certain medications can help someone recover from dreadful diseases. It is never too late to start a medication.

4. Your Partner Also Needs Testing And Treatment

An HIV infected person is a potential risk to the person sharing the bed with them. A sexual partner or spouse is at the risk of HIV infection. The definite diagnosis of HIV of one person means that most probably, his or her partner is infected.

Moreover, there are other people at risk too; a pregnant woman who has been diagnosed with HIV infection is likely to give birth to an HIV infected baby or can infect the baby while birth-giving, or breast-feeding can lead to HIV infection too.

A diagnosis of the partner can help you find out whether your partner, too, has contracted the disease or not. If they have, then they also can be put on the treatment on time, and in case she is pregnant, then the baby can be avoided from infection also.

5. HIV Treatment Does Not Affect Hormone Therapy

The spread of HIV is especially prevalent in the LGBTQ community. Some of the people of this community have to be on hormone therapy for a long time. They have to take injections with androgens like testosterone in the case of female to male transgender people. In the case of male to female transgender people, they have to take Gynogens like estrogens.

The HIV treatments like ART (Antiretroviral Treatment) HAART (Highly active antiretroviral treatment) are not known to interfere with the hormone therapies. Therefore, one can take HIV treatment along with hormones without any mutual interference.

To Conclude

This article was a brief synopsis of HIV, the treatment, and the ways to deal with the infection at various stages. With this guide, you can make sure that you prolong the life of the infected person by getting help from an HIV Help Center in Birmingham and not let spread the disease to others.